Mechelle Lewis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mechelle Lewis Freeman
OLY

Personal information
Birth name	Mechelle Chanai Lewis
Nationality	United States
Born	(1980-09-20) September 20, 1980 (age 44) Fort Washington, Maryland
Residence	Raleigh, North Carolina
Height	5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Sport
Sport	Running
Event(s)	100m and 4x100m
Medal record Women's athletics Representing the  United States Gold Osaka, Japan 4x100m Silver 2007 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 100m Silver 2007 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 4x100m

Mechelle Chanai Lewis Freeman (born September 20, 1980) is an American track and field athlete. She is known for running fast in the 100-meter race and the 4x100-meter relay. Mechelle grew up in Oxon Hill, Maryland. She won two silver medals at the 2007 Pan American Games. She also became a World Champion in 2007 and was an Olympian in 2008.

Mechelle represented the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. She was part of the 4x100 meter relay team. Her teammates were Angela Williams, Torri Edwards, and Lauryn Williams. Sadly, their team was disqualified in the first race and could not continue.

Mechelle's Early Life

Mechelle Lewis was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Fort Washington, Maryland. She is the younger of twin girls. Her parents are Eddie and Chandra Lewis. Both Mechelle and her sister loved sports from a young age. They played basketball and soccer.

They spent their summers playing in AAU basketball tournaments. In the fall, they won soccer championships for their local club. One day, in 8th grade, Mechelle easily won all her races in a P.E. class track meet. A high school scout saw her talent and suggested she try track and field.

When they started high school, Mechelle and her sister made a big choice. They decided to stop playing basketball. Instead, they focused on their new track and field careers.

High School Sports Star

Mechelle truly shined as an athlete at Oxon Hill High School. She earned awards in both soccer and track. Her decision to take running seriously paid off. She became a Maryland state record holder.

Mechelle held the state record in the 55-meter race for three years. Her best time was 6.94 seconds. She also won the 300-meter regional championship. Mechelle was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of her high school track team for three years in a row.

She was chosen for the Prince George's County All-County Team three times. She also made the All-Metropolitan team. This team featured the best athletes from Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia. Her high school track team finished third in the county three times. They also placed in the top three at the state championships twice.

Mechelle's 4x400-meter relay team won the state title for three years in a row. In 1997, they came in third at the National High School Indoor Track & Field Championships. Mechelle also won championships at the USATF Junior Olympics. She competed for the Rising Stars track club.

Mechelle was busy outside of sports too. She was crowned Homecoming queen in her senior year. She also served as the Senior Class Vice President. She enjoyed playing in the band, where she mastered both the flute and the oboe. After a careful search, Mechelle and her sister chose to run track at the University of South Carolina. They both received full scholarships.

College Days and Success

Mechelle attended the University of South Carolina from 1998 to 2004. She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Mass Communications. During her time there, she was a three-time All-American athlete. This means she was one of the best college athletes in the 60-meter, 200-meter, and 4x100-meter relay events.

She held the school record in the 55-meter race for two years. Her fastest time was 6.84 seconds. Mechelle was also part of the team that won the school's first national championship in any sport. This happened when her team won the 2002 Track & Field Outdoor Championships. She even got to visit the White House with her team to meet President Bush.

In the classroom, Mechelle was also very successful. She had the highest GPA (Grade Point Average) in her freshman class. She graduated with honors. In her senior year, she was recognized as one of the "Top 25 Most Promising Minority Students" in the country. This honor came from the American Advertising Federation.

Life After College and Return to Track

Mechelle graduated from college with high honors, earning a 3.6 GPA. She also finished graduate school with an impressive 3.8 GPA. After facing several injuries during college, she decided to take a break from sports. She wanted to start a business career.

She moved to New York City and worked at a top advertising agency called Young & Rubicam. There, she helped with campaigns for companies like Xerox and the United Negro College Fund.

After two years, Mechelle decided to return to track and field. She moved to North Carolina to train seriously again. She faced more injuries for a short time. But Mechelle bounced back stronger than ever. She went on to become a double silver medalist at the 2007 Pan American Games. She also became a 2007 World Champion and a 2008 Olympian.

Representing Team USA

Olympic Dreams in Beijing

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Mechelle was sponsored by Nike, Xerox, Lifestyle Family Fitness, and Young & Rubicam. She competed in the 4x100-meter relay with her USA teammates. These teammates included Angela Williams, Torri Edwards, and Lauryn Williams. Unfortunately, their team was disqualified. This happened because of a missed hand-off between Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams during the semifinal race.

New Roles Off the Track

In December 2010, Mechelle was chosen for new roles with USATF (USA Track & Field). She became the Elite Athlete Communications Liaison. She also became the Women's Sprints Event Leader for the USATF Athletes Advisory Committee. Mechelle was excited about these new roles as she prepared for the 2011 season.

Making a Difference Off the Track

Outside of her track and field career, Mechelle uses her platform called "Do It Afraid!" This program encourages people to believe in themselves. It helps them face their fears and move forward in life. Mechelle is also involved with Athletes for Hope. This group helps athletes use their fame to make a positive impact.

She loves to host and speak at events. She also enjoys taking part in fitness clinics. Mechelle is a strong supporter of healthy living. Her goal is to help people improve their minds, bodies, and spirits. She wants to give them the knowledge they need to live healthy lives. Mechelle is also a certified Zumba Instructor.

In 2015, she started a non-profit organization called TrackGirlz. This group helps mentor girls through track and field.

Mechelle's Amazing Achievements

Her Fastest Times

Here are Mechelle's personal best times in different races:

• All information from IAAF Profile

Big Race Results

Here are some of Mechelle's top results from major competitions:

See also

• World Fit